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Want to really hit Russia’s oligarchs? Shine a light on their money …

On Tuesday the U.S. intelligence community testified to the Senate that Russia would continue to try to interfere in U.S. elections. The testimony once again drew attention to the Trump administration’s Russia approach, which came under criticism in January when it released the long-awaited Russian Oligarch List. The slapdash release of that list set off a new round of recriminations between Washington and Moscow about election interference, as well as between the White House and Congress over who directs sanctions policy.

While Treasury Secretary Mnuchin indicated that the names publicized could be the target of future sanctions designations, it may not deter President Vladimir Putin or his network of supporters running Russia. The Trump administration and Congress should leverage attention around the Oligarch List to target dark money in the U.S. financial system, including Russian-funded election interference.